Jean Ndayesenga (pictured) uses his winnings from races to feed himself and his family.

Talented Jean, aged 27, who was the first amateur runner past the finishing line on Sunday, has no other means of providing for himself, his wife and three children.

Jean did the 13.1 miles in a staggering one hour and six minutes and for that he picked up a £1,000 prize.

But while everyone else was doing the race for fun, or to get fit, Jean was doing it to survive.

He came to England from the African state of Burundi – one of the ten poorest countries in the world – to compete in a cross country competition and has since stayed, got married and had three children.

For the last four years Jean has been living with his wife, who is also from Burundi, and their three young children in Highgate.

But because his UK citizenship does not come through until the end of the year, he cannot work or claim benefits.

His coach at Birchfield Harriers, David Lawrence, said once he became a British citizen he would look for employment – but ideally wanted to gain a place in the Team GB running squad where he would qualify for Lottery funding.

Until then his only means of survival was his race winnings.

“He only runs to win races and at this stage isn’t interested in breaking records or getting personal bests as that would put him at risk of injury,” he said.

“Until he becomes a UK citizen he doesn’t have a choice because the prize money is the only way he can feed his family.”

He said Jean, who does not drink and keeps to a strict diet, is rated as the top cross country runner in Britain and one of the top road athletes.

“It was brilliant to see a local boy winning the local half marathon,” he said.

His training schedule is arduous consisting of six days a week, notching up around 100 miles in running, as well as circuit training, weights, core strength and hill sessions.

And he always goes through at least 10 pairs of trainers every year.

Mr Lawrence said as well as road racing, Jean also does cross country and enters all kinds of races - from marathons, to local 10ks and 5ks where the prize fund can be as little as £30.

“It makes me mad when I heard these professional athletes moan about how hard it is to survive on their sponsorship - they should take a leaf out of Jean’s book and try and survive on just their race winnings,” he said.

This weekend Jean will be running again in a road relays series at Sutton Park and then a 5k race at Birmingham University.

Mr Lawrence said they desperately needed financial support from a local running shop or business to help fund Jean until his citizenship comes through.